Data center rules: local ordinances, noise limits and state laws

• Defines large users as ~7.5 million gallons per month.
  Source excerpt

  “Large quantity users are defined as those using 10,000 centum cubic which is equivalent to about 7.5 million gallons of water per month on average.”

• Requires a conservation plan with the water service application.
  Source excerpt

  “Large quantity customers will be required to submit a conservation plan with their water service application.”

• Requires recycled water to offset at least 30% of use.
  Source excerpt

  “agree to use recycled water to offset at least 30% of water use”

Source: AZPM, 2025-08-21

• Council approved zoning updates adding data centers as a permitted use subject to a special permit addressing health and safety.
  Source excerpt

  “The Phoenix Mayor and City Council today approved updates to modernize the City's Zoning Ordinance to add data centers as a permitted use that must address health and safety concerns when applying for a special permit for construction.”

Source: City of Phoenix, 2025-07-02

• Council unanimously approved Dec. 5, 2022; effective Jan. 5, 2023.
  Source excerpt

  “The ordinance was unanimously approved on Dec. 5, 2022 and took effect on Jan. 5.”

• Clarifies that data centers, as a primary use, are allowed only in Planned Area Development (PAD) zoning designations.
  Source excerpt

  “Clarifies data centers as a primary use only permitted in planning area development (PAD) zoning designations”

• Requires annual noise studies during peak operation for five years after construction is complete.
  Source excerpt

  “conduct an annual noise study during peak operation times for five years once construction of the data center is complete”

• Establishes time limitations and notification protocol for routine backup generator maintenance and testing.
  Source excerpt

  “Establishes backup generator routine maintenance and testing time limitations, including notification protocol”

Source: City of Chandler, 2023-01-11

• The Quorum Court passed it on Sept. 22, 2026 (the county recap lists it as passed; the Arkansas Times reports an 11-4 vote). It would treat data centers and similar high-intensity digital infrastructure in unincorporated Pulaski County as heavy industrial and set up a conditional use permit process with performance standards, cost recovery, inspection, monitoring, enforcement and decommissioning safeguards.
  Source excerpt

  “An ordinance regulating high-intensity digital infrastructure uses in the unincorporated areas of Pulaski County;”

• County Judge Barry Hyde announced a veto of the ordinance in a letter to the county clerk, reported Sept. 25, 2026. He cited unresolved state-law and property-rights questions, appeal provisions that must comply with Arkansas law, and litigation risk, and said he wants the ordinance corrected.
  Source excerpt

  “Judge Barry Hyde has announced that he is vetoing Ordinance No. 26-I-56B.”

Source: Pulaski County, Arkansas, 2026-09-22

• Noise from equipment may not exceed the greater of the measured ambient or the presumed ambient levels of 55 dBA by day and 50 dBA at night in residential areas; emergency generators during outages are exempt.
  Source excerpt

  “Section 4.50.080 lists presumed ambient levels of 55 dBA during the day (7:00 am to 10:00 pm).”

Source: Kimley-Horn and Associates (CEQA document, CEQAnet), 2024-09-03

• Approves a 180-day moratorium to review the data center ordinance.
  Source excerpt

  “The Coweta County Board of Commissioners approved a 180-day data center moratorium to review the county's data center ordinance at its Tuesday night meeting.”

• Halts acceptance of data center applications and hearings.
  Source excerpt

  “The moratorium will prevent the acceptance of applications for permits, land use amendments, rezoning or conditional use applications, variance applications and all public hearings related to data centers.”

• Expires Dec. 23 or on adoption of an ordinance amendment.
  Source excerpt

  “It is set to expire on Dec. 23 or until the board adopts an amendment to the ordinance.”

Source: The Newnan Times-Herald, 2026-06-17

• Keeps the 300-foot buffer requirement.
  Source excerpt

  “Staff concluded that the majority did not see fit to further adjust the 300-foot buffer requirement”

• Guidelines address concerns including utility usage by data center facilities.
  Source excerpt

  “The approved guidelines address several concerns, including utility usage by data center facilities.”

Source: 95.5 WSB, 2025-12-17

• On Sept. 3, 2025, the Board of Commissioners voted for a 120-day data center moratorium lasting until Dec. 31, 2025.
  Source excerpt

  “On Sept. 3, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners voted to impose a 120-day moratorium on data centers until Dec. 31.”

Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting, 2025-10-22

• Bans data centers along and near the BeltLine and within a half-mile of MARTA stations.
  Source excerpt

  “The Atlanta City Council voted Tuesday, Sept. 3, to ban data centers along and near the Atlanta BeltLine and within a half-mile of MARTA stations.”

Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting, 2024-09-04

• Limits sound to below 65 decibels (8 a.m.–6 p.m.) and 55 decibels (6 p.m.–8 a.m.) over 30-minute periods.
  Source excerpt

  “65 decibels or more over any 30-minute period from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or 55 decibels over any 30-minute period from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.”

Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting, 2025-10-22

• For noise from a commercial/data processing site (Class B) to residential land (Class A), consultants summarize the limit as about 55 dBA by day and 44 dBA at night (the code itself is set by octave band).
  Source excerpt

  “The Illinois noise code limits noise from commercial to residential land uses for the daytime (about 55 dBA) and nighttime (about 44 dBA) periods.”

Source: Shiner Acoustics, LLC for Prologis (City of Yorkville, IL document center), 2025-09-16

• A consultant summarizes the city code as 60 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime at residential receiving property, with a 10 dBA reduction for tonal noise.
  Source excerpt

  “The Yorkville noise code limits noise to residential land uses for the daytime (60 dBA) and nighttime (50 dBA) periods.”

Source: Shiner Acoustics, LLC for Prologis (City of Yorkville, IL document center), 2025-09-16

• Expedites approval for large-load customers like data centers.
  Source excerpt

  “expedite approval processes for large-load customers like data centers and create cost recovery mechanisms for projects utilities take on to serve those big customers”

• Requires financial assurances reimbursing at least 80% of costs.
  Source excerpt

  “reimbursing at least 80% of costs and protecting other existing and future customers from the expenses”

Source: Indiana Capital Chronicle, 2025-04-23

• Extends the qualified data center sales and use tax exemption through Dec. 31, 2050.
  Source excerpt

  “through December 31, 2050, for qualified data centers”

• Enterprise data centers must make a $250 million capital investment.
  Source excerpt

  “specific criteria, including a $250 million capital investment”

• Requires 30 or more full-time jobs that pay at least 150% of the median wage in the local prosperity region.
  Source excerpt

  “the creation of at least 30 full-time jobs paying 150% or more of the local prosperity region's median wage”

• Qualifying requires certification to one or more recognized green building standards and getting 90% of the electricity used from renewable energy.
  Source excerpt

  “stringent environmental standards, including certification under at least one recognized green building standard and sourcing 90% of electricity usage from renewable energy”

• No new certificates will be issued after Dec. 31, 2029.
  Source excerpt

  “No new certificates will be issued after December 31, 2029.”

Source: Ryan LLC, 2025-01-28

• Six-month moratorium on establishing, permitting and constructing data centers.
  Source excerpt

  “approved a Resolution Imposing a Temporary Moratorium for a period of six (6) months on the establishing, permitting, consideration, approval, location, construction, and/or installation of any data centers”

Source: City of Wixom

• One-year moratorium on permitting and construction of all data centers, extendable by resolution.
  Source excerpt

  “a temporary moratorium on the permitting, consideration, approval, location, erection, construction, review, and/or installation of all Data Centers in the Township for one year, subject to six month or less extensions by resolution”

• Adopted at a Feb. 23, 2026 township meeting.
  Source excerpt

  “on the 23rd day of February, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.”

Source: Big Rapids Charter Township, 2026-02-23

• Moratorium on new data center development effective Feb. 2, 2026.
  Source excerpt

  “formally adopted a moratorium on new data center development effective February 2, 2026.”

• Four months with one optional four-month extension.
  Source excerpt

  “The Township adopted a four-month moratorium, with the option for one additional four-month extension if necessary.”

Source: Charter Township of Lenox, 2026-02-03

• Defines data center as a facility designed for a load of 100 MW or more.
  Source excerpt

  “a facility that is designed to have a load of 100 megawatts or more”

• Special water permit conditions where new consumptive use exceeds 100 million gallons per year.
  Source excerpt

  “proposed new or additional consumptive use exceeds 100,000,000 gallons per year”

• Utility tariffs must protect other customers from stranded costs.
  Source excerpt

  “contain protections necessary to ensure that other customers of the public utility are not placed at risk for paying stranded costs”

Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, 2025-06-14

• Applies to new data center loads over 25 MW.
  Source excerpt

  “new loads greater than 25 megawatts in the aggregate”

• Minimum billing up to 85% of contracted capacity.
  Source excerpt

  “a maximum of 85% of contracted-for capacity”

• Minimum contract length of eight years after load ramp.
  Source excerpt

  “a minimum contract length of eight years after the end of the load ramp period”

• Exit fee equal to three years of minimum charges.
  Source excerpt

  “an 'exit fee' equal to three years of minimum charges”

• Ends AEP Ohio's moratorium on new data center customers.
  Source excerpt

  “requires AEP Ohio to end its moratorium on signing up new data center customers”

Source: Vorys, 2025-07-11

• An AWS noise assessment cites the city ordinance as 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at receiving residential land.
  Source excerpt

  “Section 1.2.c provides a 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime sound level limit applicable at receiving residential land.”

Source: Amazon Web Services (for City of Wilmington, OH permit process), 2026-01-06

• Directs the PUC to establish a distinct rate class for data centers above 20 MW.
  Source excerpt

  “The POWER Act, HB 3546 (2025), directs the PUC to create a separate rate class for data centers over 20 megawatts (MW).”

• The new rate class's tariff schedule must directly charge large energy use facilities for the costs of serving them and mitigate cost shifting to other rate classes.
  Source excerpt

  “The bill outlines specific requirements for the tariff schedule, including that it must directly assign costs of serving large energy use facilities to those consumers and mitigate risks of cost shifting to other rate classes.”

• Directs the PUC to require utilities serving large energy use facilities to sign contracts with them of 10 years or longer.
  Source excerpt

  “The Act also directs the PUC to require electric utilities serving large energy use facilities to enter into a contract with the consumer and spells out certain requirements for these contracts, including that they be for a duration of 10 years or longer.”

Source: Oregon Public Utility Commission, 2026

• Minimum 100-foot setback, 200 feet next to residential.
  Source excerpt

  “minimum 100-foot setback, increasing to 200 feet when a facility borders residential property”

• Violators given 30 days to correct noise problems.
  Source excerpt

  “30 days to correct the problem”

• Could be considered for adoption in October 2026.
  Source excerpt

  “could be considered for adoption in October if the review and advertisement process remains on schedule”

Source: Central Bucks Now, 2026-08-24

• Uniform large load interconnection standards apply to large loads of 75 MW and above unless PUCT sets a lower threshold.
  Source excerpt

  “Texas Senate Bill 6 (SB 6) took immediate effect upon Gov. Greg Abbott's signature on June 21, 2025”

• Sets a minimum $100,000 flat fee for initial transmission screening studies.
  Source excerpt

  “Establish a flat study fee of at least $100,000 for initial transmission screening studies, with provisions for additional fees if more capacity is requested.”

• Requires the PUCT to set up a formal process for reviewing new large loads that seek net metering with existing co-located generators.
  Source excerpt

  “The PUCT must establish a formal review process for new large loads seeking net metering with co-located existing generators.”

• Requires noncritical large loads to be curtailable during firm load shed events.
  Source excerpt

  “SB 6 also mandates curtailment capabilities for noncritical large loads during firm load shed events and allows ERCOT to issue emergency notices requiring large loads with backup generation to reduce load or deploy their own generation.”

Source: McGuireWoods, 2025-07-10

• Applies to facilities anticipated to need 100 MW or more.
  Source excerpt

  “100 megawatts or more of electrical power”

• Requires a site assessment of the facility's sound profile on residences and schools within 500 feet.
  Source excerpt

  “the facility's sound profile on residential units and schools within 500 feet of the property boundary”

• Requires disclosure of substations and transmission voltage.
  Source excerpt

  “any new or existing substations that will serve it and the anticipated transmission voltage required”

• Signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger and codified at Code of Virginia § 15.2-2209.5; effective July 1, 2026.
  Source excerpt

  “The operative language is now § 15.2-2209.5 of the Code of Virginia, enacted as 2026 Chapters 567 and 568 ... Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the 2026 version, and her office lists it among the new laws taking effect July 1”

Source: Roanoke Rambler, 2026-09-16

• Would charge $0.011 per kWh on all electricity consumed at each data center, on a monthly basis.
  Source excerpt

  “That consumption tax will be charged at a rate of $0.011 per kilowatt hour on all electricity consumed at each center on a monthly basis.”

• Revenue would be capped at $600 million per year to the general fund, with the excess refunded to companies pro rata.
  Source excerpt

  “The consumption tax would be capped at $600 million in revenue to Virginia's general fund per year, with the excess refunded to the technology companies on a pro rata basis.”

• Data center tax exemptions remain for the biennium.
  Source excerpt

  “Data center tax exemptions will remain for the biennium, but the budget conferees negotiated to include a new energy consumption tax for data centers.”

Source: Cardinal News, 2026-06-22 · Status: Holland & Knight, 2026-08-20

• Prohibits data centers in agricultural, residential, PMR, B-2, B-3 and V districts.
  Source excerpt

  “Agricultural, residential, PMR, B-2, B-3, and V districts.”

• Requires mechanical equipment to be screened from major roads and residential properties.
  Source excerpt

  “screened from major arterials, interstates and abutting residentially zoned or planned properties.”

• Prohibits chain-link or barbed wire fencing along street frontages.
  Source excerpt

  “Chain-link fencing or barbed wire fencing are prohibited along public or private street frontages.”

• Allows data centers up to 1.0 FAR within the overlay.
  Source excerpt

  “up to 1.0 FAR”

• Board of County Supervisors voted unanimously on September 23, 2026 to adopt the amendment, ending by-right data center development countywide and shrinking the Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District from about 9,700 acres to about 3,641 acres.
  Source excerpt

  “the nearly 9,700-acre district would shrink to about 3,641 acres”

• Property owners already inside the existing overlay have 90 days from adoption to file qualifying data center applications and keep by-right status.
  Source excerpt

  “Property owners already within the existing overlay have 90 days to file certain data center-related applications”

Source: Virginia Business, 2026-09-23

• Removes data centers as a permitted or conditional use countywide, along with the ordinance's data center definitions and related regulations.
  Source excerpt

  “An ordinance amendment that removes data centers as a permitted or conditional use in Frederick County was approved by the Board of Supervisors on a 6-1 vote Wednesday night. The same vote also removed definitions and additional data center regulations from the ordinance.”

• Two pending applications, a 220-acre Virginia Technology Park rezoning in Clear Brook filed April 10, 2026, and a 72-acre Winchester Gateway conditional-use permit in Kernstown filed May 11, 2026, are grandfathered but must reach public hearing by October 28, 2026; the existing Middletown Data Center was not grandfathered.
  Source excerpt

  “a rezoning application for a 220-acre data center campus in Clear Brook called Virginia Technology Park and a conditional-use permit (CUP) application for a 72-acre data center campus in Kernstown called Winchester Gateway”

Source: The Winchester Star, 2026-09-24

• Sets 100-foot setbacks inside Urban Service Areas and 200 feet outside, adjacent to non-commercial/non-industrial zones.
  Source excerpt

  “minimum of 100 feet from property lines adjacent to non-commercial or non-industrial zones within Urban Service Areas; 200 feet for sites outside Urban Service Areas.”

• Requires sound studies before approval and post-construction evaluations annually for up to 10 years.
  Source excerpt

  “Sound studies are required before final site plan approval and/or CUP. Post-construction noise evaluations are conducted initially within 90 days of occupancy, then annually for up to 10 years.”

• Requires 30% open space outside Urban Service Areas.
  Source excerpt

  “minimum of 30% open space is required outside Urban Service Areas.”

Source: Stafford County, VA

• Caps noise in industrial areas at 73 decibels by day and 68 decibels at night.
  Source excerpt

  “It limits daytime noise in industrial areas to 73 decibels during the day and 68 at night.”

• Board approved the ordinance 5-2.
  Source excerpt

  “The board voted 5-2 on both issues, with only Supervisor Yesli Vega, of the Coles District, and board Chair Deshundra Jefferson, at large, voting in opposition.”

Source: Prince William Times, 2025-10-30

• In areas where data centers were previously allowed by-right, makes them a conditional or Special Exception (SPEX) use instead.
  Source excerpt

  “Phase 1, approved on March 18, 2025, focused on proposed map and text amendments to the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan, and amendments to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, to designate data centers as a conditional or Special Exception (SPEX) use in areas where the uses were previously allowed by-right.”

Source: Loudoun County, VA

• Requires a setback of at least 200 feet between data center buildings and the lot line of any adjacent or abutting residential district or property.
  Source excerpt

  “Data center buildings must be at least 200 feet from the lot line of an adjacent or abutting residential district or property.”

• Equipment such as backup generators must be 300 feet from residential lot lines or separated from them by the data center building.
  Source excerpt

  “Equipment such as back-up generators must be 300 feet from the lot line of residential property or separated from the lot line of a residential district or residential property by the data center building.”

• Requires data centers to be located no closer than one mile to a Metro station.
  Source excerpt

  “Distance from Metro Stations: Data centers must be at least one mile from a Metro station.”

• In every district that permits data centers, equipment has to be enclosed or screened behind a wall or comparable barrier.
  Source excerpt

  “Equipment Enclosure: In all districts where data centers are allowed, all equipment must be enclosed or screened by a wall or similar barrier to reduce visual and noise impacts.”

• Pre- and post-construction noise studies are required to ensure compliance with the Noise Ordinance.
  Source excerpt

  “Noise Studies: Pre- and post-construction noise studies must be submitted to ensure compliance with the Noise Ordinance.”

Source: Fairfax County News Center, 2024-09-11

• Buildings or assemblages over 50,000 square feet require a special exception permit from the Board of Supervisors.
  Source excerpt

  “But its main impact will be seen from its declaration that any buildings or assemblages of buildings of more than 50,000 square feet will have to apply for and receive a special exception permit from the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors.”

• Exempts two projects that were already underway: a four-building data center complex planned on Vint Hill Parkway, and the expansion of an existing data center nearby.
  Source excerpt

  “the board agreed that two projects already in progress — a planned four-building data center complex on Vint Hill Parkway and an expansion of a nearby existing data center — would be exempt from the new rules.”

Source: Prince William Times, 2024-03-17

• Sets a 55 dBA maximum sound level at residential property lines.
  Source excerpt

  “For residential properties, the maximum allowable sound level at the property line is 55 dBA”

• Requires data centers to submit pre- and post-construction noise studies.
  Source excerpt

  “submit a pre-construction noise study at the time of site plan review as well as a post-construction noise study submitted at least one month but no more than 12 months after the issuance of the first Certificate of Occupancy”

Source: Loudoun County, VA

• Limits apply by the receiving property; residential areas in residential districts are held to 60 dBA by day and 55 dBA at night, industrial districts 72 and 65, and routine daytime generator testing under two hours a day is exempt.
  Source excerpt

  “Residential Areas in Residential Districts 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. 60”

Source: Acoustic consultant team for T5 Data Centers (posted by FFXnow), 2026-09-17

• Limits data centers to medium and heavy industrial zoning districts.
  Source excerpt

  “The ordinance limits data centers to areas zoned for medium or heavy industrial use.”

• Requires a conditional use permit, letting the city review water, power, noise and light impacts.
  Source excerpt

  “It also requires the developer to secure a conditional use permit (CUP), allowing city leaders to dissect everything from how much water and power the facility would use to how much noise and light it would generate.”

• Requires at least 200 feet between a data center and any residential area.
  Source excerpt

  “Alders also amended the ordinance to require at least 200 feet between any potential data center and a residential area.”

Source: WSAU, 2026-07-14

• Halts applications for, and the granting of, zoning permits for hyperscale data centers for 18 months.
  Source excerpt

  “The measure, Sub 1 to 2026 RES-039, prevents the receipt of applications for, and the granting of, any zoning permits related to the placement or construction of hyperscale data centers for the next 18 months.”

• Hyperscale is defined as at least 5,000 servers and at least 10,000 square feet of floor space.
  Source excerpt

  “the resolution was narrowed to apply only to hyperscale data centers, defined as facilities that use at least 5,000 servers and occupy at least 10,000 square feet of floor space.”

• Applies only to towns subject to county zoning.
  Source excerpt

  “The moratorium applies to towns subject to county zoning.”

Source: Dane County, 2026-06-04 · Status: WMTV, 2026-06-08